ISLANDS

This Lord Howe Island cover was offered on Ebay auctions, and at the time I considered it to be possibly unique. It was addressed to Messrs. Wilcox, Smith & Co.,/ Stamp Merchants,/ DUNEDIN/ NEW ZEALAND. The stamp was the 1^d KGV Redhead, with the N.S.W. Type 1D(i) 2-line postmark, dated 15 MY/ 1929/ N.S.W . The sender had typed in the top left-hand corner: From Lord Howe Islands (sic) (Fig. 1)

A. de SPEVILLE, BANQUE COMMERCIALE, PORT LOUIS, ILE MAURICE

This République Française Carte Postale has two red Western Australia 1d ‘Swan’stamps cancelled with two duplex FREMANTLE / 4/ SP 15/ 02/ W.A postmarks with the P.O obliterator, and it is addressed to Monsieur A. de Speville, Banque Commerciale, Port Louis, Ile Maurice. It has a manuscript ‘Par Paquetbot Post "Ville de la (Ciotat", obscured), via Colombo, as well as an arrival postmark of MAURITIUS/ 2/ OC 29/ 06( Figure 1).

ARTHUR HENRY VOYCE (1899-1984) [PAPUA-NEW GUINEA]

Missionary, Philatelist, Conchologist, Hymenopterist & Horticulturist:

AUSTRALASIAN NEW HEBRIDES COMPANY

The establishment of the Compagnie Caledonniene des Nouvelles-Hebrides in 1892 was with the explicit aim of establishing French control in the New Hebrides. In 1887, alarmed missionaries persuaded the Victorian and N.S.W. governments to subsidize shipping services to and from New Hebrides and Australia. This was followed in 1889 by the emergence of the Australasian New Hebrides Company, whose Victorian backers included two ministers, four other members of the Victorian Parliament and a former premier, James Service plus leading merchants. James Burns and Robert Philp of the Burns Philp Company were prominent in the latter category. The Australasian New Hebrides Company, in addition to waging a trade battle, actively encouraged Australian settlers in New Hebrides.

BASHI A. HAWMID, C.A.S.O.C., BAHRAIN

Several covers all to the same person and address recently came available at a website and the 2 examples are representative of them. The first is on a printed addressed envelope to Mr. B.A. Hawmid, C.A.S.O.C., Bahrain, (Iranian Gulf) and it is stamped with 2d KGVI definitive, postmarked PERTH/ 2.30 P 3 AU 38/ WESTERN AUSTRALIA (Figure 1).

C. PACE, SLIEMA WHARF, SLIEMA, MALTA

This interesting cover never quite delivered on the excitement I experienced when I first found it. The total postage of 6d was made up of six low-value stamp and it was sent from Sydney Airmail on 8 MY 39 to C. Pace Esq., 80 Sliema Wharf, Sliema, Malta and it had a manuscript routing of Australia-Italy-Malta. It had a purple boxed tax marking for 20 centimes(Figure 1).

CHARLES HINCKLEY WETMORE M.D., HAWAIAN MISSIONARY

This cover was seen at auction for an amount that was surprisingly high, namely a reserve of AUD 600. In addition it was described as a commercial cover, but I found evidence that suggested that this was probably an incorrect surmise. The quality of the cover suggested that it was a philatelically inspired registered cover with 4 strikes of REGISTERED/ A/ MY 27/ 98/ SYDNEY, N.S.W, plus a large 'R' in an oval. The cover bears 5 N.S.W. stamps, a single grey ½d, two single 2d and a pair of the same ½d at the lower L.H. side. The two 2d stamps were distinctly different in colour, one deep dull blue and the other ultramarine (both of these were issued in the 1897 to 1899 period). There were two double ringed rosine HONOLULU/ JUN / 22/ 1898/ HAWAII rubber transit cancels on the front. The letter was addressed to C.H. Wetmore Esq M.D. Hawaiian Island (Figure 1).

COCOS ISLANDS by AIR MAIL to WOODSTOCK, VERMONT, U.S.A.

This cover has an AIR MAIL vignette in English, French, Chinese and Arabic and has 4 stamps totaling 2/- (shillings) comprising the green 1/- platypus, brown 6d kookaburra, purple1d Q.E. and the blue 5d Australian Antarctic Territory Explorers at the Magnetic South Pole stamp, cancelled with 2 copies of the COCOS (KEELING) ISLANDS/ INDIAN/ 2 11 AU 61 2/ OCEAN/ AUST postmark. The reverse has no postal markings, but the senders name is typed as L. SAYERS/ COCOS ISLANDS. It is addressed to Woodstock, Vermont, U.S.A. (Figure 1).

ERNEST ALFRED CROME, “JOINT FATHER of AEROPHILATELY”

This cover has been seen on 3 different websites, but two distinct copies were involved. These two were almost totally identical, and both were prepared by E.A. CROME, c/o J. Dougherty, Esq., Mission Station, Mornington Island, Gulf of Carpentaria. The 2d red KGVI head stamp is postmarked G.P.O. SYDNEY/ AIR/3-P21DE39/ 5/ N.S.W-AUST and there is a black manuscript “Received by parachute/ 23/12/39/ John Dougherty” with a purple handstamp MORNINGTON ISLAND. In addition, there is a purple handstamp QANTAS EMPIRE AIRWAYS LTD, associated with a black handstamp PER FLYING BOAT. “CORIO.” G.AEUH. PILOT. with the pilot’s signature (Capt.) R.B. Tapp.

GEMO ISLAND, PAPUA NEW GUINEA 1948

A simple cover can lead one on a voyage of discovery, without leaving the computer. This cover was seen on eBay auctions and immediately the ancient disease of leprosy sprang to mind. The cover was addressed to the "Sister in Charge/ Gemo Island" and was posted with two Australian stamps, the purple 1d Princess Elizabeth and the ½d orange Roo, postmarked PORT MORESBY/ 23 JE 48/ PAPUA NEW GUINEA (Figures 1 & 2).

GOUGH ISLAND SCIENTIFIC SURVEY 1955-1956

This island came to my attention in an eBay auction. Two Tristan Da Cunha QEII pictorials are postmarked Gough Island / */ 22 FE/ 56/ South Atlantic on an airmail registered cover with a Tristan Da Cunha registration label and a boxed GOUGH ISLAND/ SCIENTIFIC SURVEY/ 1955-1956 marking. The cover was addressed to a Landsborough, N(orth) C(oast) Line, Queensland address and it is probably of philatelically contrived origin(Figure 1).

LETTER from ENGLAND to MISS ROSSITER, STARVATION FLAT, NORFOLK ISLAND

This cover was sent from England with the grey wing-margin 6d stamp S.G. 147, plate 15, issued in 1876 with postmark dated AP 4/ 77, the barred numeral and town name being largely illegible. It was sent ‘via San Francisco’ and ‘via New Zealand’ to Miss Rossiter, Starvation Flat, Norfolk Island. The reverse was not seen but had a transit mark of Auckland. The vendor said that inward mail was very rare at Norfolk Island at this early date (Figure 1).

LETTER to N. R. JAMES, ADELAIDE from NAMATANAI, NEW IRELAND

This fine cover is addressed to Mr. James, c/o Weather Bureau, G.P.O. ADELAIDE, South Australia. It has a red Registration label of Rabaul/ Deutsch-Neuguinea, a purple hand-stamped Crown over an oval PASSED CENSOR/ initials/ RABAUL, and the two stamps a green 3d Roo and a brown 5d KGV Head both have the N.W./ PACIFIC/ ISLANDS overprint, as well as 2 purple NAMATANAI/ 18 AU 18/ , an early unworn state of this postmark (Figure 1).

LETTERS from WIFE in AUSTRALIA to H.W. ROGER, CIVILIAN INTERNEE, H.K.

Six covers with letters were addressed to Hugh (Hugo) Wood Roger in Hong Kong dated from December 1941 until October 1943, but only five of them were from his wife Claudia and their 2 sons, Ned and Robin. The first cover is an introduction to the Japanese invasion of Hong Kong, and it was sent just prior to his wife had any information about this terrible event in the life of the family.

MELBOURNE to FANNING ISLAND WRAPPER

This ordinary Australian newspaper wrapper (H & G # E16), the 1d green Queen Elizabeth "Newspaper Only", with five lines of instructions was upgraded with the ½d orange kangaroo stamp, and was sent from Melbourne in 1941 to Mr. Frank MCay, Cable Station, Fanning Island. There was no indication of what newspaper was enclosed nor of the sender's name and address (Figure 1).

MONTAGU JOHN STONE-WIGG, ANGLICAN BISHOP of the SEE of NEW GUINEA

MOURNING COVER to ARTHUR A. BARTLETT, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND [CANADA]

A mourning cover from Australia led to an exciting story of Nova Scotia stamps remainders. It was addressed to A.A. Bartlett Esq, "The Hill", Charlottetown, P.E. I. (Prince Edward Island), Canada and it had a manuscript Per SS "Moama" . The red 1d and green ½d Victorian stamps were postmarked MELBOURNE/ PM/ 2 30/ 13 3 00 (Figure 1).

McCARRON, STEWART & Co., PRINTERS & STATIONERS, LETTER to GOVERNOR of SAMOA

This advertising cover of McCarron, Stewart & Co., Printers & Stationers, 44 Pitt St, Sydney had a blue 2½d New South Wales stamp canceled with a SYDNEY/ 9 JA 07 11–AM/ 20 postmark. The addressee was very faint but it was confirmed that it was sent to His Excellency, Dr. Solf, Samoa (Figure 1).

OSCAR MARESCAUX, COLONIAL BANK, KINGSTON, JAMAICA LETTER

PACKET BOAT CANCELS COVERS to E.M. EHRHORN, ENTOMOLOGIST, HAWAII

This cover has a ‘Packet Boat’ handstamp as well as a HONOLULU/ MAR 7/ 8 30 AM/ HAWAII cancel in a circle with the year date shown separately as 1925 as well as a large 2 in a barred ellipsoid, cancelling a pale dull blue 3d KGV head Harrison plate die I Australian stamp. It was addressed to Mr. E.M. Ehrhorn, Chief of the Division of Plant Inspection, P.O. Box 2520, Honolulu, Hawaii (Figure 1).

PARLIAMENT HOUSE (SYDNEY) to HALF WAY TREE, JAMAICA

This airmail cover is philatelically contrived with a gutter block of eight red 3d KGVI stamps, the right hand block of four with the By Authority Imprint, and both blocks with the small circle in the selvedge (so-called 'perforation pip') plus a single blue 7½d KGVI stamp, a total of 2/7½d paying the 2/6d airmail rate to the West Indies in 1952. There is added interest as there are 3 postmarks of PARLIAMENT HOUSE/ -3 DE 52/ N.S.W . The cover is addressed to J.M. Nethersole, Chelsea Rd, Halfway Tree, Jamaica, B.W.I., and it was re-addressed in pencil to another (unknown) address (Figure 1).

PLEASANT ISLAND, NAURU, THE N.W. PACIFIC ISLANDS’ OVERPRINTS

Most of the N.W.P.I. covers are philatelically contrived, and this possibly may be an exception. There are seven N.W.P.I. overprinted stamps on the cover: The KGV heads ½d green, 4d orange and 5d orange-brown (looking remarkably red!) as well as the Roos 2d grey, 3d olive, 6d blue and the 9d lilac. All are carefully postmarked P.O. PLEASANT ISLAND/ SE 10/ 1916/ NAURU. In addition, the ½d green has a diagonally placed handstamp ‘CENSORED’. There is the blue crayon cross marking and a red ink manuscript ‘R. Nauru No. 1105 as confirmation that it was registered. The cover is addressed Lieut. Col. W.G. Clements R.A.M.C. ( R ), M.O’s Quarters, Hilsea, Hants. (Hampshire), and a manuscript England has been added (Figure1).

POSTCARD to TAMATAVE, MADAGASCAR from BRISBANE

From the outset I have to admit that I am not a collector of Australian Colonial postcards, nor do I have much knowledge of ship routes from Brisbane to what I would call exotic places. The purpose of this paper is to see if readers can add information to the content of this paper.

POSTCARD to WILLIAM A. TOPLIS, SARK, CHANNEL ISLANDS, ENGLAND

There are four main islands (Jersey, Guernsey, Alderney and Sark) in the English Channel that are called the 'Channel Islands'. These islands are dependencies of the British crown (although strictly not part of the United Kingdom), having been so attached since the Conquest of 1066 when they formed part of the Duchy of Normandy. The smallest of the four is Sark. The islands were occupied by the Germans in WW II. The total area is only 194 sq km and both English and French are spoken, and Norman-French patois survives (Figure 1).

POSTCARD: V-PACIFIC DAY ADMIRALTY ISLANDS, SOUTH-WEST PACIFIC

R. P. CLARK, POSTMASTER, SCHOOLMASTER & ELDER, PITCAIRN ISLAND

REV. GEORGE HUNN NOBBS, NORFOLK ISLAND

This 1868 stampless cover is addressed to Revd G.H. Nobbs, Norfolk Island Australia, has a LOMBARD-STREET/ F.O./ OC 30/ 68/ PAID cds in red and has a large faint manuscript '6' rating as well as manuscripts 'Via Southampton' across the top, 'ans(wered) to Mr. Glennie, July 27th 1869' on the left side and 'Consignee's letter/ (indecipherable)' on the right. The vendor states that there is a colorless embossing on the cover front "BETHAM & BLACK/ TRANSIT AGENTS/ COX'S QUAY/ LOWER THAMES ST LONDON', the forwarding agents, plus an unusual transit 'B/ DE 25/ 1868/ SYDNEY' postmark on the reverse (Figures 1 & 2).

REV. JAMES EGAN MOULTON, MISSIONARY, TONGAN BIBLE TRANSLATOR

Two covers were sent to the Rev. J. Egan Moulton at Tupou College (both spelt incorrectly as Tubou), in the capital city of Nuku’Alofa, Tonga. The first had a pair of the red 1d N.S.W. ‘Shield’ stamps cancelled with the barred numeral obliterator of ‘1204' and in addition the origin was confirmed by a cds of ENMORE/ NO 17/ 1897/ N.S.W (Type 1D (i) 1896-1906). In addition there was a blue crayon tax manuscript of ‘T5' (Figure 1).

ROBERT BEAR, PUBLISHER/IMPORTER & REV. DELAPORTE, NAURU MISSION

SAMARAI, B.N.G. to P. E. SEAGREN,

SOHANA/SOHANO PAPUA-NEW GUINEA REGISTERED LETTER to NEW JERSEY

A colorful three stamps of Australia with a total postage of 7d was sent registered from SOHANA/ 14 JL 49/ PAPUA-NEW GUINEA, but the red registration label was printed as SOHANO with a registration number of ‘1534' to a P.O. Box 150, Elizabeth, N.J., U.S.A. Although the cover looked philatelically inspired it was not a first day cover for !d brown purple Queen Elizabeth nor the two Mitchell stamps (Figure 1).

ST HELENA to BURDEKIN HOUSE, MACQUARIE STREET, SYDNEY

This May 22, 1896 cover with a strip of three 1884-94 blue 2½d overprint on 6d stamps of St. Helena (S.G. #40) paid the triple rate to Sydney Australia. It was backstamped both in London and Sydney, and it was addressed to Norman Burdekin Esq, C/o Sydney Burdekin Esq. Macquarie Street, Sydney N.S.W. An estimate of AU$ 1500 was placed on the cover (Figure 1).

SYDNEY to COLONIAL SUGAR COMPANY, REWA RIVER, SUVA FIJI

Two covers with the blue TWO PENCE stamp of New South Wales were sent from Sydney to the same person in Fiji and they almost certainly were from the same sender in spite of the differences in spelling of the addressee’s name. The first cover had a SYDNEY/ A/ JU 4/ 83/ 1 postmark in the top right corner and it was addressed to Mr Robert Leonard, c/o Colonial Sugar Co, Rewa River, Suva Figi (sic). The stamp placed at the lower left had a duplex SYDNEY/ A/ JU 4/ 83 postmark with the triple oval N.S.W obliterator. There was a partially obscured manuscript ‘urgent’ under this postmark. A very faint POST OFFICE/ SUVA/ FIJI was on the reverse, but a scan of this rare and unrecorded postmark by Proud has not been provided as it does not scan well (Figure 1).

SYDNEY N.S.W. to Mrs. EDWARD CAMERON, GRAND TURKS ISLAND

Two New South Wales postcards and one NSW Letter Card, with all 3 addressed to either Mrs. E. or Mrs. Edward Cameron, with slight variations of the address have recently appeared on the internet (December 2004). The composite address was as follows: Mrs. Edward Cameron, Government House, Grand Turk (Island), Turk's Islands, West Indies. The earliest is a REPLY POST CARD and has the printed blue 1½d stamp postmarked SYDNEY/ DE 26/ 93/ 34, N.S.W duplex, as well as a receiving postmark of TURKS ISLANDS/ FE 27/ 94 (Figure 1).

TIN CAN ISLAND MAIL, TONGA to MASTER W.M. SCRYMGOUR, ADELAIDE

Philatelically inspired mail of this type is not uncommon, but this cover is somewhat unusual for the addressee is a good starting point for researching a family that was associated with a printing company that had a history of 100 years, from 1875 to 1975. The front is adorned with a total of four hand-struck stampings, one in black script, another in green made up of three parts, a purple circular and also a purple 2-line strike. Although the black script states that it was put in the sea on the 11^th August 1938, the only legible part of the cancel is a ‘25' on the blue 2½d ‘TOGA’ Queen Salote stamp, issued in 1934. The cover is addressed to Master W.M. Scrymgour, C/o Messrs. Scrymgour & Sons, 115 King Wm. Street, Adelaide, S.A. (Figure 1).